Recession driving white collars to pawnshops
Business Examiner
The continuing slow economy, with job cuts and reduced work hours an economic recession brings is creating a shift in the customer base for pawnshops around the nation. The steady parade of people seeking short-term loans who offer their power tools, jewelry and hunting rifles as collateral are finding themselves in line with people seeking loans on more white-collar collateral, from Rolex watches and antiques to designer handbags.More

Lenny Dykstra on video selling World Series rings to pawnshop
Los Angeles Times
Tokyo TV recently did a story on pawnshops, and who should walk in while they are filming their story? Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies' star Lenny Dykstra. The ball player, who has fallen upon hard times financially, came in to get some money for his World Series rings.More

Pawn Stars
Nevada Public Radio
The History Channel has launched a new reality show set in the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop on Las Vegas Boulevard. It tells the story of buying, pawning and selling everything from antique guns to vintage video games and Rolex watches. Father and son Rick and Corey Harrison talk about the nature of the pawn business.More

Gold prices boost pawn, coin shops
The Connecticut Post
Pawnshops and jewelry stores have been advertising heavily that they're buying gold as they compete against out-of-state businesses that operate through the mail. What makes all these businesses able to buy gold is that they also have to have customers on the other side to sell to. More

Maine pawnshop owner helps nab church burglar
WPFO-TV
With some help from the owner of the Guitar Grave pawnshop in Portland, Maine, police have arrested Peter Hoyt for the break-in at the Park Avenue Church of God in which thousands of dollars worth of musical equipment was stolen. After the burglary, the church called several pawnshops and asked them to keep an eye out for the stolen goods.More

Firearms, ammunition see explosive sales growth
The Wall Street Journal
While a remarkable surge that began late last year is starting to ease, Americans' demand for firearms and ammunition - driven largely by economic concerns and the fear of new regulations - remains brisk as double-digit sales increases continue to fill the financial coffers of gun and ammo makers alike.More

Pawnshops boom during fair week in Amarillo, Texas
KFDA-TV
People are doing what ever is necessary to make sure they have enough money to pay for a trip to the Tri-State Fair in Amarillo, Texas. Whether it's applying for a payday loan or pawning valuable items, local business owners say they've seen a surge in customers hoping to make some quick cash. David Erwin, who owns Erwin Pawn, says, "It starts right when the fair cranks up... Boom we get busy. Tools, musical instruments, jewelry, we see a lot of guns, game systems."More

Pawnshops oppose proposal that could increase rivals
Las Vegas Sun
Las Vegas is in the early stages of considering an ordinance to allow more pawnshops in the city — the measure has no City Council sponsor, and council members have yet to be briefed on it. But that hasn't stopped lawyer-lobbyists for existing local pawnshops from coming out in full force to try to get the measure killed.More

It's case closed after South Walton jewelry heist
Walton County Sheriff's Office via The Destin Log
Hard work by Walton County Sheriff’s Office investigators led to the arrest of a suspect and the discovery of more than $40,000 in stolen jewelry. An alert pawnshop owner also helped authorities in solving the case.More